Houston short on hospital space if terrorists attack

May 6, 2008 6:18:00 AM PDT

HOUSTON --

Houston is one of several big cities that does not have enough hospital rooms to handle victims of a potential terrorist attack. A congressional study looked at hospitals in cities most likely to be terror targets: New York, LA, Chicago, Washington and Houston. Researchers discovered none of these cities had enough space for extra patients.

Many are running above capacity. But Houston's overflow operation is not as high as other cities. A Houston doctor said an increase in terror threats won't necessarily boost hospital resources.

"We can't have four extra doctors on duty all the time waiting for an explosion to occur. It can't happen," said ER physician Dr. Richard Bradley. "So what we have is good plans."